Staple blank



June 4, 19.40. v

STAPLE BLANK Filed March 18 1937 Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STAT PAT 'sTAPLn BLANK chorros a. Gooastoio, Brooklyn. N. y.'

Application March 18, y

l2 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved Stapling and tacking machines are those gen-` erally referred to as employing pre-formed staples, these usually being of U-.shape and adapted to have their legs driven through the material to be stapled, and thereupon clinched in the case of sta'pling machines, and allowed. to remain straight in the case of tacking machines.

Stitching machines are those which employ a roll of wire from which a staple-forminglength of wire is cut,'andthereupon formed into U- shape and driven through the material. In the case of stapling and tacking machines, particularly where the staple stock is relatively wide,

only relatively small, quantities can be. loaded in the feeding chamber, thereby requiring frequent re-loading which is both costly and time consuming,v especially in the use of such machines in industrial production work.

In the case .of stitching machines these are usually of intricateand expensive construction, due to the necessary complication of mechanisms required in the several steps of making and driving lstaples from ordinary wire stock,4

these steps including wire straightening, feeding, cutting. forming and driving. Because of f this complication such machines very often pro- '35 duce imperfect staples, frequently get out of order, and require constant o supervision, which is costly and time consuming.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of staple blank by which staples may be supplied in quantities, either .in stacked or strip form, and to provide in such blank a weakened portion or portions whereby the staple may be easily and perfectly cut,

formed and driven. It is further proposed to provide such. staple blank which will insure accurate feeding in Vthestapling machine.

A further object isto provide a staple blank by which the staple, according to the invention, may be formed and driven in a stapling machine by an improved method, according to the invention. consisting in first shaping the`r flat blank in the machine into U-form, and then transferring it to a position in the machine where -it is driven through the material, and further to provide means whereby while driving through the material the legs4 oi the formed staple will vbe supported bothat the inner'and outer sides `against buckling.

With the above andl other objects in view, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, and this vembodiment 1931. sonal No. 131.642. (ci. "-49) aNr ori-ica i l i will be hereinafter more fully descritos with l reference thereto and the invention will be final-.l

lly pointed outin the, claims. o

In the drawing: 1 Fig. 1 is a plan view of a` staple vblank strip, according to the invention, showing aA plurality oi.' staple blanks connected together inlongitudinal succession. j

Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof. Fig. 3 is 'a perspective view of one of the blanks in flat relation prior to being bent into` staple form.

Fig. -4 is a perspective view showing the same blank bent into inverted U-shape staple form. Fig. 5 is a plan viewl of al staple blank strip showing a plurality of staple blanks integrallyv breakable adhesive, arranged either betweenthe-v adjacent surfaces or onthe edges.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of staple blank having only one leg portion.'

9 is a side elevation showing the blank oiv Fig. 8 bent into staple form. o

Fig. 10 is a plan View of a further modified form of staple blank having one leg shorter than the other.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation showing the blank of Fig. 1 0 bentinto staple form. Fig. 12 is a plan view of a modiiled form of staple strip in which the weakened connecting portions between the staple forming blanks extend the full width of the blank. u

Fig.,13 is an edge view thereof.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of 'a further modified form of staple blank.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of another form of staple blank.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of still another form of staple blank. o

Fig. 17 is a plan 'view of another modied form of staple blank forming strip.

Fig. 18 is aplan view of a further modifiedV I form of staple blank.

Fig. 19 is a plan view of a further modified form ofA staple blank forming strip formed of wire. f

Fig. 20 is a vertical sectional view of a machine, -adapted to feed, cut, form, and drive staples according to; the invention. A

Fig. 21 is ahorizontal sectional view take along the line ZI-II of Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 22--22 of Fig. 20.

Fig. 23 is a vertical sectional view of a modistaple blank stacks.

Fig. 24 is a vertical sectional view of the lower portion of the machine, showing a modiiled form of plunger, adapted for the driving of staple blanks of the type illustrated in Figs. 15 and 18. Fig. 25 isv a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a modified form of anvil for bending the staple legs in overlapping relation.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. l to 4 thereof, the staple blank strip according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated therein, is formedwi a strip oi metal whichf may be supplied in any suitable length from a' coil, and which maybe furnished in coil form for use in the stapling machine, thestrip being drawn therefrom and continuously fed into the machine. The strip is provided -at equally spaced intervals with notches .Hl- IIL- opposite each other, and in spaced relation to provide a narrow weakened connection between the staple forming blanks, this weakened connection being preferably further weakened by grooving, as at j i, across the narrow portion of the connection, this grooving either being at o ne side, as shown, or at both sides, if desired, and being V-shaped so that it not only points the end of the staple blank, but disposes the weakestpoint at the division line between the two staple blanks. The notching furthermore provides converging ends upon the staple leg portions which facilitate penetration through the material to be stapled, and also in I clinching the ends by engagement with the anvil, and as will hereinafter more fully appear, allows these ends to first curl so that when the staple is clinched the ends will readily imbed in the under surface of the material.

. Y The notches lil-i8, or the groove Il, or both, may be conveniently utilized for accurate feeding of the staple strip in the machine by engaging the feeding means, which will preferably be arranged to reciprocate, in these, equally spaced notches and grooves.

Intermediate the ends of the staple forming blank spaced notches i2-i2 are provided in opposed elation at each edge, to provide a. staple crown or bridge portion I3 between the notches i2'l2, and leg portions H-H between the notches i2--I2 and the `end forming notches iI-il. As shown .in Fig. 4 these notches I2 predetermine the point of bending of the staple blank into U-form, insuring accurate bending of each staple along predetermined lines, so that the staples thus formed will be uniform. The notches I2-i2 furthermore provide means which cooperate in the machine with retaining ribs, or the like, to support the staple legs at both the inner and outer sides during the driving of the staple, so that the legs cannot buckle, and will therefore be driven through the material with great accuracy, and will penetrate with a minimum amount of force applied to the staple driving plunger.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have illustrated a-staple strip consisting of a plurality of staple blanks, similar to the blank as shown in Fig. 3, but .connected in transverse succession, that is, by grooves I5, formed either by cutting, or swedging, or rolling between the staple blank forming portions,` producing weakened connections between the portions. Instead of forming the leg ends by notching, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, I have shown the ends pointed by beveling, as at i6. It will be understood, however, that this is optional.

4stack either'consists of the blanks loosely arranged, that is, unconnected by adhesive, or consists of the blanks connected by a suitable easily breakable adhesive such as lacquer, glue, or the like.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have illustrated a modiiled form of staple blank consisting of a crown portion l3- and only one leg portion I4. This will engage the material in a. manner similar to a tack. 'Ihe ends are shown beveled, as at i6.

In Figs. 10 and 11 I have illustrated another modiication in which one of the leg portions Il is shorter than the other. In this case only one leg will be clinched upon the underside of the material being stapled.

In Figs. 12 and'13 I have illustrated a modified form of staple strip in which the staple strip blanks are connected byweakened portions producedby grooves Il extending the full width of the strip.

In Fig; 14 I have illustrated a modied form of staple blank in which notches lil-42l are provided intermediate the ends and which are of V-form, as4 distinguished from the semi-circular notches l2. The ends ofthe staple legs are providedwith the notches I0 as distinguished from the semi-circular notches I0.

In Fig. 15 I have shown the staple blank weakened" at predetermined points intermediate its ends by perforations I8-i8.

In Fig. 16 I have shown a modification in which the crown portion i3 of the staple blank is made narrower than the'leg portions by means of cut-outs I9-I9. at each side, the ends of these cut-outs predetermining the weakened points of bending between the staple crown and the staple legs.

In Fig. 17 I have shown a modified form of staple strip in which the staple forming blanks are formed at their ends by means of perforations 2l producing weakenedl connections between the staple forming blanks and forming double material penetrating staple leg ends. The connection may be further weakened by grooving as at 2i,-which also serves to point the double leg ends.

In Fig. 18 I have shown a modiiled form ot staple blank somewhat similar to the form shown in Fig. l5, but having a slot 22 extending longitudinally of the crown portion, the ends of the slot predetermining the points of bending.

In Fig. 19 I havev shown a staple forming strip formed of wire, the staple blanks being connected by annular grooves 23, and the points oi bending between the crown portion I3* and the leg portions ile-ll being determined by smaller annular grooves 24-24.

In Figs. 20 to 22 I have shown a machine adapted to the feeding, cutting, forming, and driving of staples from the staple blank strip, according to the invention, such strip being oi the type as shown either in Figs. 1 and 2, Figs. 12 and 13, Flg. 17, or Fig. 19. 'Ihe machine may also have individual or unconnected successively arranged staples used thereon.

vThe body 24 of the stapling machine is provided at one end with a head portion 25 having a vertical passage 26 in which a staple forininr plunger 21 is adapted to reciprocate, and a smaller vertical passage Il disposed intermediate staple driving plunger!! is adapted to `reciproone wsu of the `e u, and wams which s cate.

staple blanks are adapted tofbe bent into inverted U-shape through cooperative engagement of the endof the plunger 21, which is provided for this' purpose with a forming recess Il, the lower edges 22 of the plunger at each .side of the recess being preferably inclined downwardly and outwardly and the outer end of oneof said edges:

32 being adapted to act as a staple cutting knife as well. as a stop for the staple feeder.A as will presas it is fed into the passage rests upon the upper movement of the slide causes the strip A staple blank from the strip, and then causing the sta'ple blank to ybe bent into inverted U-form about the post ll. Thereupon this formed staple ently more fully appear.

The passage 2l in which the plunger 2l moves extends to the lowerl end vof the body 24 for the purpose of allowing the staple to be forced out of the passage and through the material, .the material being disposed upona `support 33 having a staple leg clinching anvil portion 34.

The staple strip isfed throughl a slot 35 into the passage 2G being so arranged'that the strip end of the post 3l. Any suitable means may be providedfor intermittently feeding the strip. I have shown such meansas consisting of a slide 36 movable in a slideway I1 and carrying a pawl 3l pivoted at 3! in the. recessed end of the sllde,.'

and/ which drops into engagement with one of the notchesof "the strip, whereupon .forward forwardly.

'Upon' feeding 'of the strip in to the passage 26 the plunger 21 is depressed, first by cutting offthe is fed into vthe passage 28 bymeans of a plunger il operating in a passage, having a notched about the bridge portion ,of,

' ven'ient locking together of the clinched legs as end 42 for engaging v the staple.

when the stapieism this positionA nis readyy to be-driven by the plunger 2l.- It will be underg stood that the plungers 21 and 2l will operate together, the plunger 2! driving a staple which has .been formed by the plunger 21 during the pre' ceding operation, and the plunger 21forming another staple blank into U-form-simultaneously 50 arcanos tough' material. such n abre board. learner. or

In the base of the passage 2( there-lis provided a staple'forming post 3l about which thel Iing its base inclined, las at to be fes "the passage the rods the like'. i

In riz. -23 r nave shown a modification or tnemachineadapted to feed the staple blanks in stacked form. and for there is provided a staple stack containi chamber .M hav- -in the chamber so that as one becomes used up the other moves downwardly intrv 'operative position in relation to the outlet opening II. The feeding means vor the individual staple blanks consists of a feed bar 41 moving` in a passage Il and notched. as at 4I. to engage the staples. As

one staple is'moved into lplace upon the post Il. the previously formed staple. upon .the post is moved thereby into the i' :e' 2l, where it lsin position to be forced downwardly by the. plunger ln Figs. 15 and 18. In this lforni the plunger 29 is provided with vertical passages Il in' which spring pressed rods Il .are"fengaged. In thee V lin operative raised position of the plungerthese rods are extended and disposed above the staple. Asthe plunger moves downwardly the rods engage the holes i8 in the case of thestaple blank shown in Fig. 1 5. and the ends of -thesl'ot 22 in the caseY of the staple blank shown in'Flg. 1 8. thus supporting the staple legs at their Iinner sides against buckling. \As the plunger continues to move downwardlyA to force the staple downwardly in u move up into the es In Fig. 25

tion. .This arrangement' lends itself to the conby interlocking formations.. =cold solder, spot welding, or the. like. vBy making thestaple leg ends oppositely beveled they will pass into over- Having 'thus -described my invention what I 'Wmtemromaummgunemmme .todcilneabridgeportionandalegporu cach having its side nearest e portion inclined toward that'portion so :englobent orinsertion,theopen I have shown amodified form of an- A vil having a recess ll,- one side of which is upwardly offset, as at I4. so that the clinched ends' of the vstaple legs move into? overlapping rela- 

